February 2, 2024
Don't forget that we are having a joint worship service this Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Gym (with Sunday School beforehand at 9:30 a.m.). The reason for this schedule change is that we're going to be ordaining and installing our newly elected elders and deacons.
Andy Rowan has already been ordained as an elder in a previous PCA church, and Steve Tackitt has already been ordained as a deacon here at POPC - so these two men will only be installed as officers of POPC. John Neiswinger will be ordained and installed as an elder here, and Garrett McMullin will be ordained and installed as a deacon here.
Our Book of Church Order helpfully defines ordination as "the authoritative admission of one duly called to an office in the Church of God, accompanied with prayer and the laying on of hands, to which it is proper to add the giving of the right hand of fellowship." We see ordinations in both the Old and New Testaments (e. g., Leviticus 8; Acts 6:6 and 13:2-3).
It is not some magical hocus-pocus, by which grace is mysteriously passed from current officers to new officers - rather, it is an act of government by the elders jointly, formally recognizing "that a particular man has the gifts and graces requisite for that office" and authoritatively admitting him to the full functions of his office (for more on ordination, see this article by Dr. Guy Waters).
At the service I will briefly explain the warrant, the nature, the character, and the duties of the offices of ruling elder and deacon. "Character" and "duties" are common words - how should an officer conduct himself, and what is he to do as an officer. But the words "warrant" and "nature" are perhaps a little more obscure.
We're familiar with a "warrant for someone's arrest" - a warrant is authorization, justification, sanction. As we'll see, the offices of elder and deacon are not human, man-made offices, but are divinely instituted.
The "nature" of something is its inherent, essential features - what is the thing? An elder is an official shepherd, an overseer, a steward, a teacher. A deacon is an official servant, who tangibly shows the mercy of Christ to those in need.
Jesus has given both offices to the church to reflect His two-fold ministry of word and deed. Both are necessary for the well-being of the people of God. Both are to exemplify the humble and holy nature of our Savior. And both are weighty responsibilities that are not to be taken up lightly. So be in prayer for these men, and for their wives and children!
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We're finishing up our mini-series on stewardship this Sunday, appropriately focusing upon our stewardship of the spiritual gifts that God has given each one of His children. The next two Sundays are our Missions Festival, and then we will jump back into the book of Romans one last time, working out way through Romans 12-16. I'm looking forward to getting to the practical application of all the rich doctrine that Paul has set forth for us in the first eleven chapters!
Be in prayer for me that I would preach sound doctrine diligently, plainly, faithfully, wisely, zealously, and sincerely - and that you would "attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what you hear by the Scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in your lives" (Westminster Larger Catechism 159-160).
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Because of the ordination/installation service on Sunday morning, we're moving the Lord's Supper to the evening service. The Lord’s Supper is often called “Communion,” because as we eat the bread and drink the cup, we commune with our Savior spiritually, by faith (see I Cor. 10:16-17). We are strengthened as we feed upon Him and recall all the spiritual blessings we have in Him (Eph. 1:3ff.). We also commune with one another, for our union with Jesus unites us with all believers in Jesus Christ. So “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:24-25). May our tasting and seeing that God is good and kind and merciful enable us to be good and kind and merciful to one another!
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Men, don't forget to join us down at FPC this evening for the Mid-South Men's Rally! Bring your children and either come at 5:15 for dinner, or 6:00ish to get a seat for the first session. Dr. Sandy Wilson (formerly Senior Pastor of 2nd Pres in Memphis and currently the President of The Gospel Coalition) will be our speaker, so you won't want to miss it.